I was fortunate enough to hit up the 2011 edition of HEAVY T.O. and even purchased the tickets before the band were announced. For some reason, I had a feeling it was going to be a good year :-)
Now, for these articles, I usually throw around some opinions and constructive criticisms. I'm going to keep all feelings aside and just report on some need to know facts about these bands to make your experience at the festival a little more enjoyable. If you know of someone going to the festival, pass the articles along and get them just as stoked as we are!
These guys are pretty much one of my all time favourite bands. With seeing them over a 1/2 dozen times over various venues and various cities, I look forward to the wackiness of Adam D, the precise execution of Justin Foley's drumming and the intense vocals of Jesse. These guys have gone through some ups and downs in the past few years, so it's nice to see them back on their feet, getting some mega touring under their belt and a new album in the works for (hopefully) late 2012 or early 2013. So without further delay, AFGM brings you KILLSWITCH ENGAGE!
***
Sometimes, a much-loved and highly successful band needs to shake things up a bit to keep things fresh and interesting for their fans and for themselves, all the while retaining the signature sonic hallmarks that have defined their sound.
For their upcoming sixth album, Massachusetts metal pioneers Killswitch Engage reunited with original singer Jesse Leach, whose vocals and lyrics on 2002's landmark Alive or Just Breathing are fan-favorite qualities and part of what helped put KsE on the map as one of the most important bands of the '00s metal revival. Poll KsE fans and ask which album they like best and Alive or Just Breathing is usually right at the top of the list.
KSE 2012 consists of:
Adam Dutkiewicz - Guitar | Joel Stroetzel - Guitar | Mike D'Antonio - Bass | Jesse Leach - Vocals | Justin Foley - Drums
Call it coming full circle, returning to their roots or coming home again. Whatever the case and no matter what you choose to label it, Leach's return to the fold is welcomed and anticipated by all involved, from the band members themselves to the fans. Leach is a fitting piece of the KsE puzzle. KsE enjoyed a decade of success with Leach's replacement Howard Jones, who has moved on amicably.
'This change is very exciting,' the band said upon announcing Leach's triumphant return. 'We know you're going to love it. This is truly a new era in KsE history and it is ready to shred your face off. So, please help us in welcoming Jesse back into the KsE family; he is a rare and great talent, a fact that older KsE fans have known for years. Here is to a killer new record and a bright future. The five of us cannot wait to write this record and play shows together and bring that feeling to our fans. It's been far too long.'
KsE burst onto the scene with the genre-defining Alive or Just Breathing, notching a Grammy nomination in 2005 for the title track from 2004's gold-certified The End of Heartache and following up that landmark album with the Gold-selling As Daylight Dies and an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live along with gracing the covers of countless metal and rock magazines around the world.
Through the '00s, KsE adopted a versatile, non-stop touring schedule. The band's road history includes two treks on Ozzfest, stints on Warped Tour and Taste of Chaos, as they have that rare ability to straddle the line between the metal and alternative scenes by touring with Slayer and Mastodon as easily as My Chemical Romance and Underoath.
The band's DVD Set This World Ablaze also enjoyed Gold-selling status, proving that KsE have the metallic Midas touch.
However, KsE have never coasted on the wave of prior successes, which saw them become one of the premier, most successful bands to emerge from the so-called New Wave of American metal. With Leach back at the vocal helm and behind the mic and a renewed sense of what they want to accomplish, what once was is brand new again and 2012 (and beyond) looks to be another exciting year (and decade) for Killswitch Engage.
***
So I figured that since they have gone through some recent changes from their vocal position, it's best to talk about the latest releases for both singers. For recap, Jesse dropped "Alive or Just Breathing" with KSE right before his departure from the band, in which they replaced him with Blood Has Been Shed vocalist Howard Jones. Jones would go on to release 3 LP's and a live DVD ("Set The World Ablaze") before his departure.
Alive or Just Breathing is the second studio album by Killswitch Engage. It was released on May 21, 2002 via Roadrunner Records.
Alive or Just Breathing was Killswitch Engage's first album on Roadrunner. Produced by drummer and guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz, this was the band's first album on a major label, which prompted them to write and record the album to the best The lyrics, which were all written by vocalist Jesse Leach, were aimed to bring a positive message through the music.
Shortly after the release of their hit album Alive or Just Breathing, Jesse Leach decided to leave the band for personal and health issues. Side note, this is also the last album to feature Dutkiewicz on drums (yeah that`s right, he played drums for the band as well!), as he would switch to guitar before the touring process.
1. Numbered Days
2. Self Revolution
3. Fixation on the Darkness
4. My Last Serenade
5. Life to Lifeless
6. Just Barely Breathing
7. To the Sons of Man
8. Temple from the Within
9. The Element of One
10. Vide Infra
11. Without a Name (Instrumental)
12. Rise Inside
Killswitch Engage's second full-length effort, Alive or Just Breathing, finds the band expanding on the crunchy metalcore sound they established themselves with on their 2000 self-titled debut. This is a pure metal album that seemingly has ignored any fashionable trend and instead relies solely on skill and expertise to sculpt some of meatiest heavy metal since the glory days of Metallica and Slayer. Injected into these chaotic hardcore/death metal hybrid songs is an undeniable sense of melody that flawlessly enhances every track, and instead of turning Killswitch Engage's permanent heavy sound weaker, this melodic accompaniment only goes to make you realize how intense and exhilarating the band is when they explode in an inferno of enraged brutality. Killswitch Engage refreshes your memory by including two old favorites, 'Temple from the Within' and the must-hear 'Vide Infra.' While these have been given a new treatment, each song outdoes the original in sounding much crisper and more lethal; in this situation, the fluid production definitely has helped strengthen the old tunes. The lyrical content is exceptional, as Killswitch Engage don't travel the weary path of death, destruction, and unrepentant negativity, and instead seek to bring the listener to a new level of awareness, delivering the message to treat one another with respect, keep hope alive, and strive to make the world a more civil place to reside in. This is not the typical metal band; with lyrics such as 'I believe love will overcome' from the sensational album closer 'Rise Inside,' it is obvious KSE has more than a blistering double bass and agonizing screams going for them. Although the group now belongs to a much more extravagant record label, their do-it-yourself attitude shines fiercely; in fact, guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz handled all production and engineering duties on top of recording all of the album's drum tracks, while bassist Mike d'Antonio took the time to give much thought on the album's packaging and art direction. This results in an album that one cannot deny reflects the group's heart and soul. This professionalism and skill is understandable, since d'Antonio once was the creative force that propelled Overcast into the spotlight as one of the best metalcore bands in the underground community, while vocalist Jesse Leach struggled in several projects, including Nothing Stays Gold, and Dutkiewicz and guitarist Joel Stroetzel made a name for themselves in the Massachusetts area in Aftershock. Alive or Just Breathing shows the group broadening their metal horizons, while still succeeding in putting almost every other metal album in the last five years to shame. With this album, Killswitch Engage has transformed from a hungry independent act into a ravenous metal beast that is ready to begin devouring all in sight, and should certainly accomplish that and much more in years to come." -All Music
***
"But the key to the greatness of 'Alive or Just Breathing' can be found in the amazing melodies, led by the voice of former singer Jesse David Leach. His command of a song is beyond belief. To this day I still find that 'My Last Serenade', 'Fixation on the Darkness', and 'Life to Lifeless' are three of the best sing-along tunes you are likely to ever hear in heavy music. The hooks are just incredible. It continues to amaze me how effortlessly the band fuses those punishing grooves with the beauty and grace of the melodies. It is a very difficult feat to pull off and many bands fail miserably trying to do so. Now THIS is songwriting! As a side note, you may recall that 'Temple from the Within' and 'Vide Infra' originally appeared on the self-titled debut and were re-recorded for 'Alive or Just Breathing'." -Blabbermouth
***
"Aside from the stunning melodic elements on tracks like 'My Last Serenade' or 'The Element of One', 'Alive or Just Breathing' also incorporates brutality currently unmatched by any band in hardcore today ('Numbered Days', 'Fixation on the Darkness'). Even with much of the viciousness being portrayed within the music, the lyrics display much more of a positive vibe. [Former] vocalist Jessie Leech sheds light on a little bit of a different concept, one that isn't too prevelant in the hardcore world; and that is overcoming inner struggle with positivity ('Self Revolution', 'Temple From the Within').One of my favorite lyrics throughout the entire album is on 'Rise Inside': 'If I stand alone, I'll fight for you', very powerful.
This album is also a 'call to arms' if you will. Many of the lyrics also express the ideas of revolution against oppression, not only oppression from the powers around you, but also oppression from yourself; a mental revolution. This idea is directly drawn from the spiritual undertow swirling within the band.There is a vulgar passion residing in the music of Killswitch Engage, one so strong that when someone hears it, they feel truly it." -Lambgoat
***
"Listening to the Jesse Leach fronted KSE as opposed to the Howard Jones Fronted KSE on The End of Heartache is a minimal transition as in retrospect and as I own The End of Heartache, they sound similar, both having snarling growls and soulful clean croons, though Jones may be a few octaves deeper in both categories (I still prefer Jones in Blood Has Been Shed). But listening to Alive or Just Breathing? four years later, I can appreciate the album for being what is was and is, especially considering the rather unfortunate growth of the genre. KSE basically nailed it, and nailed it good. The tangible, on the sleeve In Flames influence mixed with burly hardcore essentially fills the template that Unearth and Poison The Well made, but they threw in some sumptuous hooks, anthemic choruses and a clean, polished tone that would sit well with less ‘hardcore’ listeners. And even after listening to all the metalcore I’ve been forced fed for the last four years, Alive or Just Breathing? is still better than most of it, and is arguably better than their even more commercial follow up. Obviously, the hit single 'My Last Serenade' stands out, but lesser known tracks like opener 'Numbered Days', the burly but soulful 'Fixation on the Darkness' (which in retrospect seems made for Howard Jones’ vocals), the hardcore stomp of 'Life to Lifeless' (though its chorus flails compared to other tracks), the moody but urgent 'Just Barely Breathing' the short intensity of 'To the Sons of Man' and the thrash assault of 'Vide Infra' all deliver high end, pretty much perfectly produced and played melodic metalcore for the masses." -Metal Review
***
The 2009 self titled is the fifth studio album Killswitch Engage. It was released on June 30, 2009 via Roadrunner Records.
For no idea why or how, it is the band's second album to be self-titled, the first being their debut album (circa 2000) of the same name. It was produced by both Adam D (who handles quite a bit of the production in modern day metal) and Brendan O'Brien. This is the band's last studio album to feature Howard Jones on lead vocals.
1. Never Again
2. Starting Over
3. The Forgotten
4. Reckoning
5. The Return
6. A Light in a Darkened World
7. Take Me Away
8. I Would Do Anything
9. Save Me
10. Lost
11. This Is Goodbye
Special Edition Bonus Tracks:
12. In a Dead World
13. Rose of Sharyn (Live)
14. My Curse (Live)
15. Holy Diver (Live)
iTunes Pre-Order Exclusive Tracks:
12. "A Light In a Darkened World" (Live)
Westfield, MA-based metalcore kings Killswitch Engage's fifth full-length album (and second eponymous release) was co-produced by Brendan O'Brien (Bruce Springsteen, AC/DC, Aerosmith, Mastodon), resulting in the group's most commercially viable collection of progressive/thrash/emo-metal to date. Where 2006's As Daylight Dies hinted at an accelerated focus on the more melodic aspects of extreme metal, Killswitch Engage cements the notion. After a typically brutal opener that epitomizes the band's penchant for scorching thrash-heavy verses and sweeping, melodious choruses, the quintet spits out the radio-ready "Starting Over." Flanked by dual guitar leads that echo classic Iron Maiden and shot through with a truly great vocal take from lead singer Howard Jones (who sounds remarkably like a classically trained Trent Reznor throughout the album), it's one of the album's finest, though ultimately divisive moments. It sets a significantly different template for the remainder of the record, trading tight machine-gun riffs ("Save Me," "A Light in a Darkened World") for angst-fueled midtempo dirges ("Lost," "This Is Goodbye") that might disappoint fans who feel that the punk-infused slow-burn post-hardcore albums like Alive or Just Breathing and End of Heartache are the barometers for which all future endeavors must be compared. -All Music
***
"When a band releases an eponymous album it can sometimes indicate a lack of fresh ideas. Yet even though this is the second self-titled long player that Killswitch Engage have released this decade they’re far from stagnant. Metalcore, the scene that spawned and supported them, is all but dead and only the hardiest of bands will survive – they will, on the strength of this, be one of the last standing. The nailgun death-metal riff attack of ‘Never Again’ and ‘The Forgotten’ will be enough to satisfy the gnarliest of brutality addicts, ‘The Return’ goes even further into emo territory and ‘A Light In A Darkened World’ will appeal to denim-clad NWOBHM fans. Their future as a metal act with their fingers on the button seems assured." -NME
For more info on these guys and their triumpant return to the stage, check em out at any of the following official links:
- www.facebook.com/killswitchengage
- www.killswitchengage.com
- www.twitter.com/kseofficial
*KILLSWITCH ENGAGE WILL BE PERFORMING ON SUNDAY (THE 12TH) ON THE JAGERMEISTER WEST STAGE FROM 18:00-19:00*
No comments:
Post a Comment